Player-piano.



J. H. BECK & G. BEDFORD.

PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I1 1914.

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i C3 m 1 E 1% A E J. H! BECK & G. BEDFORD.

PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ, 1914. 1,164 912. Patented Dec.21,1915.

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"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. BECK AND GEORGE BEDFORD, 0F BROOKLYN, NE? YORK.

PLAYER-PIANO.

1' b all 207107721 may concern Be it known that we, Josnrn: H. BECK and (lnonen Bnoroiu), citizens of the United tates, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Player-Pianos, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention is an improvement on our Letters Patent No. 1,083,268, dated January 6th, 1914, for mechanism whereby the screen, the key-slip and the panels are all operated by turning a single handle so as to open or close the piano by one movement. The present invention operates in the same general way, but modifies the construction and mounting of the lower panel in such a way that it answers also the purpose of a screen or shield for the space behind it within the instrument casing. Vi e also provide a spring connected to one of the pedal supp-z "ting bars and constructed to resist the movement oi? the latter, both in opening and closing. Also, we provide a pneumatic device having an extended arm arranged for cushioning contact with the shield carried by the lower panel when the latter nears the end of its outward movement. e also provide certain improvements in the devices for opening and closing the key-slip and the upper pane-ls.

Our present invention consists in the above indicated improvements and in certain :n'lditional innprovements in the con struction and combination of parts hereinafter more particularly set forth and clain'ied.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a player piano en'ibodying this invention, in open position, the nearer wall of the casing being removed; lf jig. 2, a like view in. closed position; Fig. 3, a perspective rear view oi the operative mechanism in the position of Fig. 1; Fig. l, a detail view of the spring which acts on the treadle in two directions, with proximate parts; Fig. 5, a detail of the cushioning pneumatic and proximate parts; Fig. 6, a detail of the convex bearing T and proximate parts; and Figs. 7 and 8 details of the locker engaging hook and its operating lever.

A designates the handle which is mounted on, and preferably integral with, one end of a horizontal rock-shaft or rocking arm A, mounted in fixed bearings a on the front of Specification of Letters Patent. Pate t d DQQ 21 1915 Application filed. August 1, 1914.

Serial No. 854,479.

I the casing of the instrument, said shaft or red being provided at the other end with an arm A turning therewith. This arm is connected by a long approximately vertical downwardly extending link bar B to a bell crank lever C, which 1s connected to pedals D by a long extension of one arm C, which arm constitutes one of the pair of pivoted supporting bars of said pedals. The other supporting bar C of said pedals is pivoted to the pedal rail at 0. The effect of turning the handle A. and rock-shaft or rod A so as to lower the link bar 13 is to fold said pedals into the instrument, taking the position shown in Fig. 2. The ascent of said link-bar reverses this movement, thrusting out the pedals in position for use.

An arm is mounted at its lower end on a crossrod or pintle E wnich asses through the lower end of link-bar 13 and the biturcated shorter arm C of crank lever C, the latter arm being a stout casting detachable at will from the rest of said lever. Said a rm 1 1 carries a roller E on its upper end and is rocked forward by the ascent of said link-bar, being governed in this movement by a link Fl attached to a fixed part to bring said roller against the rear face of lower panel G, below the center of the latter, said panel being provided with bearing brackets g, which are arranged at its sides, and turn on pivots g. The effect of this contact and movement is to turn the upper part of said panel downward and inward into the posi tion shown in Fig. 1. The upper edge of said panel has a curvilinear shield G attached rigidly thereto and extending rearward approximately in the form on a section of a cylinder with the concave face downward, while the panel G is in its vertical and closed position as shown in Fig. 2. The downward and rearward turning of this panel above described results in presenting this hollow face forward as a shield, thereby covering and protecting the pedals as is done by the separate shield described in the patent aforesaid, yet being practically integral with the lower panel and requiring no separate support nor actuating means. lVhen the arm E is withdrawn again from said panel by the ascent of the link-bar B, the lower part of the panel G will descend by gravity and the upper part will return to its former position, the horizontal pivotal line of said panel being sufiiciently high to make the lower art of said panel outweigh the upper part and the shield G, thus insuring the action stated. To prevent any sudden jar on closing, a small bellows or pneumatic Z is provided with an extended arm Z arranged to be struck by said shield in this movement, said shield and panel being retarded as the air slowly issues from said bellows through aperture A spring 2 within said bellows will also resist its compression and restore it to normal position when the pressure of the shield ceases. The bellows is fixed to the casing, near the top of the lower panel and on one side of the same.

The panel, pivoted as stated and carrying the shield, constitutes one of the most important features of our present invention.

{far from the moving outward and inward of the pedals l) by ascent and descent of link-bar B is guarded against by a torsion spring U fastened to the foot rail of the piano at the end of the long arm of said spring and held by an eye or staple a to a fixed cushion ll near the short arm of said spring, said short arm being bent approximately at right angles to said long arm and attached at its end to the left supporting bar C of the pedal frame. Another fixed elastic cushion a is provided for the short bifurcated arm or casting C aforesaid...

WV hen the pedals pass beyond a certain point, moving inward or outward, the arm 0, above mentioned, of course puts said spring under torsional strain and insures its resilient action. This resistance prevents all injurious jar of or by the pedals, and the other cushioning devices hereinbefore referred to perform a like service for other moving parts. The said spring is hidden within the casing whatever the position of said moving parts. It tends to resist the outward movement of the pedals even when the latter are substantially vertical. It re-- quires no other *esisting element to aid its action above mentioned, either during the inward or outward movement of the pedals.

A. short arm H on the main operating rock-shaft A. near the operating end of the latter is connected by a link rod H to the bent end of a vertical rock-shaft I, carrying a lever J of the first kind consisting of a strong casting having arms of unequal length and designed for the triple service of operating the key-slip and the upper panels of the casing also the locker for the keys. Below the pivotal hub of the said. lever a section 4) of strong iron piping is sleeved on said shaft and secured to a supporting part of the casing or frame of the instrument as a strong bearing for said shaft and lever. The long arm of said lever J isconnected by a link N to the rear end of a long longitudinally movable horizontal bar M, the other end of said bar being connected by a curved link 0 to the key-slip P, so that it may draw the latter over and upward,

closing the key-slip when the handle A is turned so as to close the lower panel and the other parts of the instrument actuated thereby; the reverse movement of said handle and bar of course opening the key-slip and these other parts. The parts i to O in elusive act on said key-slip at one end thereof as shown in Fig. 3. It has not been found necessary to employ a similar set of connections for the other end of said key-slip, which turns freely on its pivot when actuated at one end only.

The short arm j of lever J, which we designate as the duplex lever since said arm does double duty, is connected to arm 7r of a long vertical rock-shaft or axially oscillating rod K by means of a link rod L, the ends of said link rod being bent up through holes in said arms 7' and is. Tlhe upper end of said rod or shaft K is bent laterally and arranged for contact with lever P substantially as in our patent aforesaid, which lever is connected by a link r to the upper end of a lever S pivoted at its middle and having a longitudinal slot S in its lower arm, which receives a stud e of the nearer upper panel Z. From the upper end of lever a link rod S extends to a bar Z rigidly connected to the other upper panel Z, said link rod being pivotally attached to said lever and bar its ends, to allow the necessary play of these parts. A retracting spring Q attached to the instrument casing or frame at one end and to the upper part of lever S at the other, normally holds said upper panels closed, and will close them when the pressure of rod or shaft K is removed from lever R, at the same time moving the latter lever back after the bent upper end of said rod or shaft, keeping these parts in contact and ready for action in opening said upper panels. Thus the turning of said vertical rod or shaft K in one direction immediately opens ooth of said panels by the aid of levers ,5: but the turning of said rod or shaft in the opposite direction leaves said spring free to close said panels.

The upper part of lever ll is a broad wooden lland S and against the resistance of spring 1 blockwhich receives at any point that may be i chosen a screw-eye r attaching thereto the nearer end of the link 1. By shifting this screw-eye from one point of said lever to another and turning its screw into the wood. of said lever at the new point chosen an exact adjustment of leverage may be effected, correspondingly increasing or decreas ing the throw or sliding distance of the upper panels required. I'he slot S allows the stud .2 to move corremqondingly farther or less far without binding as these levers t, S and connected parts cotiperate.

The end of link-rod L, which passes up through arm j of lever J, eXtends high enough to receive a loop or eye t on one end and block Y of a horizontal forward extending link-rod T and two convex buttons T facing each other on said rod above and below said loop and preferably screwed on said rod. The lower button is in contact with arm 7' of lever J. The convex faces of said buttons allow a considerable amount of play to said loop and link rod without binding to correspond to the rise and fall of the forward end of said link-rod which is connected to a locker or lock bar W extending under the whole series of keys W and hinged at one corner so that it will turn up and lock the said keys when said link rod L is d awn backward and fold down to leave them free when said link rod is pushed forward, both movements being effected by the arm j of lever J while arm A simultaneously rocks the panel operating rod K to open the upper panels or leave them free to close automatically. The part of the locker which comes into contact with the keys is convex and has a felt face on.

The link-rod T is made detachable at will from key-locker IV, being provided with a hook T which fits down over a stud IV on said locker or lock-bar IV. This hook is raised out of engagement at will by a lever Y moving with a block Y, which is pivoted at its rear lower corner to the key bed and provided in its upper part with a slot y of suitable depth for its bottom, at the forward corner, to bear against the underside of the link rod T and lift the same when said lever is tilted rearward to a convenient extent. The said lever is fastened to the said block by a pair of screws y and y The uroer screw extends through said slot and all rds a stop for said link rod to prevent it from being raised too far for expeditious replacement in engagement. W hen released said link rod descends by gravity and its own resiliency, causing the reengagement of the said hook with said stud. The lever Y to their normal vertical position by a spring i 2 acting on the rear face of said block.

The turning of the main operating handle A in one direction opens the upper and lower panels and key slip, turns the screen with the lower panel into operative position and turns up the locker W to lock the keys. The turning of the handle in the reverse direction withdraws the pedals, turns down the locker, closes the panels and incidentally restores the shield to its inoperative position.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with the casing of a player piano, pedals for the same, means for protruding and withdrawing them, a reversible lower panel pivoted near its middle and carrying a shield on one end, which shield is operative to partly cover the openare simultaneously restored ing when the pedals are protruded for use and means for moving said panel into closing position or the reversed position at will.

In combination with the casing of a player piano, a reversible lower panel pivoted thereto near its middle for turning over into open or closed position at will, pedals, means for protruding or withdrawing them and a shield mounted on one end of said panel and reversible therewith and adapted to occupy a position behind said pedals when the panel. is open.

In combination with the casing of a player piano, a reversible lower panel pivoted near its middle and having its center of gravity below the pivotal point and carrying a. shield on its upper part, which shield is reversible with said panel and adapted to take behind the protruded pedals when the panel is open, means for turning said panel on its pivot to present said shield in position for use, the distribution of weight suflicing to restore said panel to its closed position when pressure is withdrawn.

4. In combination with the casing of a player piano, a panel pivoted to turn therein and provided on its top with a curved shield arranged to present its concavity forward when turned into the reversed position, and to cover the space behind the protruded pedals when the panel is open.

In combination with the casing of a player piano, a pivoted reversible panel carrying a shield, and a device arranged for contact with said shield on closing to cushion the same, the said shield being mounted on and reversible with the said panel and operating to screen the spac b hind the pedals when the panel is open.

6. In combination with the casing of a player piano, at pivoted reversible panel carrying a shield, and a pneumatic device having a part extended into position ior contact with said shield as said panel closes.

7. In combination th at pivoted panel carrying a curved shield, a fixed bellows arranged near the Llj f il end and side of said panel and .roiiclr with an extension arranged to be in the A art of the convex side of said shield to yield-ably resist the closing of said panel.

8. In combination with a reversible panel carrying a shield on its upper part, an arm arranged to act against the rear side of said )anel to turn. the same into o en position ahandle and intervening devices for operating said arm, the said panel being adapted to regain its closed position when said arm is withdrawn and said shield being adapted to cover the spacebehind the protruded pedals and being free from all parts except said panel.

9. In combination with a handle and main operating rockshaft, a short vertical rocksha-ft I and intervening connections whereby it is operated, a lever having two arms and carried by shaft 1, a key-slip and connections from one arm of said lever to said slip for operating the same, the upper panels, a long vertical axially movable rod, connections i n the latter to these panels and connections from said roclzshai't l to said long red.

10. in combination with a player piano casing, its lower panel pivoted. on a horizontal .i ie between the top and bottom, a shield carried by and mounted on one end of said panel and arranged to be turned into the reversed position when said panel opens, pedals, chanisin for moving them out through the casing as said panel opens and ithdra ting them into the same as it closes, handle and ii'cclzshai'ft, actuating mechanisin and an arm carried 3y said mechanism and to act against the said panel for opening the same.

11. "in combination. with a player piano casing, a sliding upper soring acting to close the same, a local rod adapted to turn on its axis tor opening iid panel and holding it open or for ijreeing said panel o that it may close, according to the direction in. which said rod is turned, a hinged hey-slip, a reel 4 connections ilC-li'l one arm of said n of i said lever to said lre slip, a handle distinct from. d hey-slip, a main actuating rock-shaft operated by sait. handle and connections whereby said l'rane lo and lOCli-Sllililft actuate the short rock-shalt before mentioned.

In combination with an operating lever and shaft,

lever having two opposite arms and o1 erated by said shaft, a keyslip and connections or operating the same from one arm of s id lover, a pair of upper panels and a shaft or rod for opening the same, a hinged hey-locker and connections to said shaft or red and said locker from the other arm of said for simultaneously operating then 13. A hinged lreylocirer, and an axially movable panelbperating rod, in combine; tion with a lever,n1eans for operating said lever and connections from the same arm oi said lever to said locker and rod for operating thein simultaneously.

l l. An operating lever, in combination with inovahlv upper panels, a lllOilble lower pan and screen, a movable lie slip, pedals movable outward and inward, a movable a lover carried. by said or to said rod, connections from the other key-locker and connections from said operating lever tothe above several devices whereby they can all be operated for opening the player piano when the said lever is turned in one direction and for closing the player piano when it is turned the other way.

15. A hinged key locker, in combination with a link rod having a detachable connection therewith, a lever connected to said rod, actuating means for said lever and means for freeing said link rod at will from said locker.

lo. a hinged key lee-her provided with a lateral stud, in combination with a device provided with a hook for fitting detachably on said stud, a lever and means attached thereto arranged to lift said hook at will out of engagement and means for drawing on said device to raise said locker.

17. A hinged key locker provided with a lateral stud, in coinhiiiiation with a linlc rod provided with a hook -,dapted to fit down on said stud, means for operating said link rod to raise said locker, a pivoted block which is provided with a slot to receive said link rod, the said block being adapted to raise said red when tilted rearwardly and a lever attached to said block for tilting the same.

18. in combination with a hinged hey locker provided with lateral stud, a link rod provided with a hoot: adapted to lit down detachably on said stud, a pivoted slotted block adapted to receive said link l and to lift the same when said block is i '7 ed rearward, a replacing; spring for Slit block, a lever attached to said. block for actuating the saline and a screw which is one of the means oi? attaching; said lever to said block and extends through the slot of the latter, serving also as a stop for said link rod.

19. In player pianos, a casing and pedal supporting bar pivoted to the foot rail of the casing, in combination with a torsion spring coinpr ng a long arm having its end fastened against text Jig to said foot rail and a short arm at an angle thereto and engagin said bar adjacent its pivotal point.

In testimony whereof we have a fixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

if SEPH l-l. BECA:

GEORGE BEDFOR-l).

li 'itnesses JOHJ M. Laczno, 7 PETER Bron.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, 1). G. 

